Job 21:2

_HEAR DILIGENTLY MY SPEECH, AND LET THIS BE YOUR CONSOLATIONS._ Consolations. If you will listen calmly to me, this will be regarded by me as "consolations;" alluding to Eliphaz' boasted "consolations" (Job 15:11), which Job felt more as aggravations ('mockings,' Job 21:3; Job 21:34) than consolations (Job 16:2.)....

1-6 Job comes closer to the question in dispute. This was, Whether outward prosperity is a mark of the true church, and the true members of it, so that ruin of a man's prosperity proves him a hypocrite? This they asserted, but Job denied. If they looked upon him, they might see misery enough to demand compassion, and their bold interpretations of this mysterious providence should be turned into silent wonder....

Verse Job 21:2. _LET THIS BE YOUR CONSOLATIONS._] ותהי זאת תנחומתיכם _uthehi zoth tanchumotheychem_ may be translated, "And let this be your retractations." Let what I am about to say induce you to _retract_ what you have said, and to _recall_ your false judgments. נחם nacham signifies, not only to _comfort_, but to _change_ _one's mind_, to _repent_; hence the _Vulgate_ translates _et agite_ _paenitentiam_, "and repent," which _Coverdale_ follows in his version, _and amende yourselves_. Some suppose the verse to be understood ironically: I am now about to give you consolations for those you have given me. When I have done, then turn them into _mockery_ if you please....

HEAR DILIGENTLY - Hebrew “Hearing hear” - that is, hear attentively. What he was about to say was worthy of their solemn consideration. AND LET THIS BE YOUR CONSOLATIONS - That is, “You came to me for the professed purpose of giving “me” consolation. In that you have wholly failed. You have done nothing to sustain or comfort me; but all that you have said has only tended to exasperate me, and to increase my sorrow. If you will now hear me attentively, I will take that as a consolation, and it shall be in the place of what I had a right to expect from you. It will be “some” comfort if I am permitted to express my sentiments without interruption, and I will accept it as a proof of kindness on your part.”...

EXPOSITION JOB 21:1 Job answers Zophar, as he had answered Bildad, in a single not very lengthy chapter. After a few caustic introductory remarks (verses 2-4), he takes up the challenge which Zophar had thrown out, respecting the certain punishment, in this life, of the wicked (Job 20:4), and maintains, "in language of unparalleled boldness'' (Cook), the converse of the proposition. The wicked, he says, live, grow old, attain to great power, have a numerous and flourishing offspring, prosper, grow rich, spend their time in feasting and jollity—nay, openly renounce God and decline to pray to him—yet suffer no harm, and when they die, go down to the grave without suffering, "in a moment" (verses 5-15). To the suggestion that from time to time they are cut off suddenly in a signal wa

HEAR DILIGENTLY MY SPEECH,.... The following oration or discourse he was about to deliver concerning the prosperity of wicked men; to which he desires their closest attention, that they might the better understand the force of his reasoning, the evidences and proof of fasts he should give; whereby, if their minds were open to conviction, they would clearly see their mistake, and that truth lay on his side: AND LET THIS BE YOUR CONSOLATIONS; or "this shall be your consolations" k; meaning, either that they would receive instruction and benefit by his discourse, which would yield them pleasure and comfort; and to an ingenuous mind, to be convinced of an error, to have mistakes rectified, and to get knowledge of the truth, it is a real satisfaction, and affords pleasure; or else, that whereas their end in paying him a visit was to comfort him, and they had taken methods, as they thought, i...

CHAPTER 21 JOB'S REPLY _ 1. Hear my solemn words--then mock on (Job 21:1)_ 2. His testimony concerning the experiences of the wicked (Job 21:7) 3. Your answers are nothing but falsehoods (Job 21:27) Job 21:1. This answer shows that Job gets the upper hand over his accusing friends in this controversy. In a masterly way he meets their arguments. He wants them to hear diligently, and if they choose, after he has spoken, they may mock on. He is not complaining to man, or making his appeal to these human friends. He begins to look for another helper, even to God....

JOB 21. JOB'S REPLY. Zophar was graphic and vigorous, but had nothing to say. Nevertheless his speech suggests to Job his next argument. The facts are quite the opposite of what Zophar has said: the wicked do not die prematurely. Is the doctrine of Providence true? JOB 21:1. Job invites the friends to listen in silence (Job 21:5) at the terrible truths he has to disclose (Job 21:6). In Job 21:4 read of man (_mg.) :_ the meaning is that Job complains of God. JOB 21:7. The prosperity of the godless. In...

HEAR DILIGENTLY. See note on Job 13:17....

_your consolations_ They believed they were offering him the consolations of God (ch. Job 15:11); the consolation he seeks from them is that they listen to him....